In biology, asexual reproduction commonly occurs in which groups of organisms listed below?

Introduction / Context:
Reproduction is the biological process by which living organisms produce new individuals. There are two main modes: sexual reproduction, involving fusion of gametes, and asexual reproduction, where offspring arise from a single parent without gamete fusion. Asexual reproduction is common in many simple organisms and in many plants. This question asks you to identify which groups of organisms commonly show asexual reproduction, emphasising the broad distribution of this mode among lower animals and plants.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Asexual reproduction includes processes like binary fission, budding, fragmentation, and vegetative propagation.
• Lower animals include simple invertebrates and unicellular organisms such as protozoa.
• Many plants can reproduce asexually through vegetative parts like stems, roots, and leaves.
• Higher animals such as mammals and birds usually rely on sexual reproduction.

Concept / Approach:
Asexual reproduction is widespread among simple organisms. Bacteria, protozoa, and some worms reproduce by processes like binary fission, budding, or fragmentation. Many plants reproduce asexually through vegetative propagation, using structures like runners, tubers, bulbs, and cuttings. This allows rapid multiplication of genetically identical individuals. In contrast, higher animals like mammals, birds, and most reptiles usually reproduce sexually and rarely show natural asexual reproduction. Therefore, the correct answer should acknowledge that both lower animals and many plants can reproduce asexually.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that asexual reproduction occurs frequently in bacteria, protozoa, and some simple animals such as hydra and planaria. Step 2: Remember that plants often use vegetative propagation, a form of asexual reproduction, to produce new individuals from stems, roots, or leaves. Step 3: Recognise that higher animals like mammals and birds rely almost exclusively on sexual reproduction and do not typically reproduce asexually in nature. Step 4: Evaluate option A, which restricts asexual reproduction only to plants, ignoring its occurrence in lower animals, and see that this is incomplete. Step 5: Evaluate options B and C, which limit asexual reproduction to only higher or only lower animals, both of which ignore plants. Step 6: Conclude that the most accurate statement is that asexual reproduction occurs in both lower animals and many plants.

Verification / Alternative check:
Biology textbooks describe binary fission in amoeba, budding in hydra and yeast, and fragmentation in planaria as examples of asexual reproduction in simple animals and other organisms. In the plant kingdom, vegetative propagation in potato (tubers), strawberry (runners), and Bryophyllum (leaf buds) are standard examples of asexual reproduction. These sources emphasise that asexual reproduction is common in lower organisms and plants. They usually mention that higher animals seldom, if ever, reproduce this way in nature. This consistent description confirms that both lower animals and plants are involved.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Only plants, with no occurrence in animals is incorrect because many lower animals and microorganisms also reproduce asexually through processes like fission and budding.
Only higher animals such as mammals and birds is wrong because these animals primarily use sexual reproduction; asexual reproduction is not a typical natural strategy for them.
Only lower animals such as some worms and protozoa is incomplete because it ignores the very common occurrence of asexual reproduction in plants.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may focus only on one set of textbook examples, such as amoeba or yeast, and conclude that asexual reproduction is only relevant to microorganisms. Others may remember vegetative propagation in plants but forget that some animals also use asexual methods. To avoid this, keep in mind that asexual reproduction is usually associated with lower levels of biological complexity and is common in both lower animals and plants. Higher animals, on the other hand, are primarily sexual reproducers.

Final Answer:
Asexual reproduction commonly occurs in Both lower animals and many plants that can reproduce without gamete fusion.